So far, so good.
The Missouri Mavericks, the Central Hockey League and the city of Independence have made the right moves so far in getting ready for hockey in Eastern Jackson County.
It’s a long to-do list:
New arena, the Independence Events Center, on schedule to open by mid-November. Check.
Central Hockey League franchise committed to 10 years of play at the arena. Check.
Start selling tickets. Check.
Hire coach and announce team name. Check.
Assemble roster of players, practice, skate hard. In progress.
Roll out mascot, T-shirts and the rest of the team paraphernalia. In progress.
Win games, fill seats, chase championships. Show area residents that this is a family-friendly, budget-friendly type of entertainment. In progress.
Take every opportunity to generate excitement about a new team and, to many, a new sport. Check.
The first puck is dropped in less than five months. The owners have promised an aggressive, gritty style of play that should endear the players to the fans. A lot of those fans will come from outside Eastern Jackson County, spending a dollar or two while they’re here. That’s a winner for the area.
